Tests and review: Pro Side by Pipeline ~ Le Vapelier

Commercial characteristics

Sponsor having loaned the product for the magazine: Pipeline
Price of the tested product: 299 €
Product category according to its selling price: Luxury (over 120 euros)
Mod type: Variable power electronics and temperature control
Is the mod telescopic? No
Maximum power: 80 W
Maximum voltage: 11 V
Minimum value in Ohm of the resistance for a start: 0.05 Ω

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

It is the eternal story of a French luxury brand, which for several years has resisted the shock of fashions, the invasions of Chinese products, however good they may be, and which perpetuates a high-end spirit in the vaping world. A great story, made up of products whose quality is unanimously recognized by professionals and by many who have taken the plunge and one day bought a Pipeline mod.

But we do not create the future by sitting on what we have acquired and today Pipeline offers us a new opus at its vape-opera. This is the Pro Side, a remote atomizer mod, developed and manufactured in collaboration with Dicodes, the brand's long-standing partner. Dicodes is a manufacturer, but it is also a genius founder, namely a creator of chipsets at the pinnacle of technology and each novelty benefits from the ability of these silica wonders to cyclically improve functionality and precision, all factors. which greatly influence the restitution of flavors, the quality and reliability of the vape. Joining the pantheon of founders Evolv and Yihi in the Holy Trinity of vapers.

The Pro Side is offered at a price of 299 €. Yes, it stings, no one tries to silence it. And yet, beyond the price, it is above all a long-term investment. What other manufacturer can guarantee its products for two years? Which virtual competitor offers mods that last another seven years later, working like the first day, like my old tube whose longevity is starting to scare me? Finally, which brand offers a mod whose signal reliability and the quality of the vape do not deteriorate over time? As anyone who has ever taken the plunge will tell you, a Pipeline is for life. And this quality comes at a price.

The Pro Side is a single battery mod, using an 18650. Be careful to associate it with a new and good quality battery, the mod sending 22A maximum, it needs batteries allowing it to function optimally and whose discharge current maximum can provide at least this value. Sony VTC 5 A, Samsung 25R required.

The mod can send from 5 to 80 W on a resistance scale between 0.05 and 5 Ω but it will be at its best to drive MTL or DL atomizers restricted between 0.30 and 1 Ω, which is ultimately its core target.

It only remains for me to tell you, to finish this step, that the Pro Side offers a multitude of features, each more useful than the next, which will allow you to take the time to sculpt your personal vape. No worries, we'll break it all down!

Physical characteristics and felt quality

Width or diameter of the product in mm: 25
Product Length or Height in mm: 77.5
Product weight in gr: 192.4
Material composing the product: Stainless steel, Aluminum
Form Factor Type: Box with remote atomizer
Decorative style: Classic
Quality of decoration: Excellent, it is a work of art
Is the coating of the mod sensitive to fingerprints? No
Do all the components of this mod seem well assembled? Yes
Fire button position: Lateral near the bottom cap
Fire button type: Mechanical metal on contact rubber
Number of buttons making up the interface, including touch zones if they are present: 2
User interface button type: Mechanical metal on rubber contact
Quality of the interface button (s): Excellent I love this button in every way
Number of parts making up the product: 2
Number of threads: 2
Quality of the threads: Excellent
Overall, do you appreciate the quality of manufacture of this product with regard to its price? Yes

Rating of the vapelier as to feelings quality: 5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

The first shock is aesthetic or should I say ecstatic? Indeed, if the object is not large, the fairies leaned over its cradle and developed engaging curves on a double-circle base joined at their center. With the 510 connection deported on one and the chipset on the other, the twinness creates a groove in its center which sculpts the shape giving it great sensuality while ensuring inimitable comfort in the hand. No sharp angles here except for the horns which allow to better enhance the atomizer that you will choose to put on it. The design success is total and the set-up can still be perfect by choosing the ring corresponding to the diameter of your favorite ato from the options catalog.

The second shock consists in looking at the object more closely and seeing that if perfection does not exist, we do not know it at Pipeline because, or that my gaze is, the finishes are exceptional. We are used to it with the brand but all the same, it is difficult to take our eyes off the quality of the materials used. Aluminum to lighten the load but with a good thickness which makes all the difference and plates, top-cap and bottom-cap in stainless steel. Only noble materials and worked to the micron. The aluminum is anodized and displays a beautiful satin black shade that is soft to the touch. We guess that the coating is made to last and besides, having the mod for a month, I can say that, even with a magnifying glass, we do not see the slightest scratch on it! And if you prefer an aesthetically lighter version, there is also a gray model.

The stainless steel parts have received similar attention. A chamfer running all along the parts allows a very soft grip, each edge having been carefully knocked down so as not to injure the skin. The two buttons serving as either switch or interface have undergone identical treatment and are perfectly positioned in their housing, one at the base of the mod, under the atomizer and the other near the screen. You can choose which one will fire and even both if it's convenient for you. The button at the bottom is installed in a perfectly made notch. Every detail has been thought out with great finesse, both in research and in manufacturing.

On the top of the mod, there is an oled screen, small but easily readable, whose demarcation between glass and metal seems to be done at a molecular level as the adjustments are neat. The bottom cap accommodates a battery hatch, closed by a cap easy to grip and unscrew / screw. There are also four good sized torx screws for disassembly and a slight circular recess for carrying the current when using the optional Dicodes CS-1 charging stand.

It should be noted that the Pro Side is not equipped with any integrated charging port. You will therefore have to use an external charger to recharge your batteries, which is still the best way to ensure a long life for them. We are on a very high-end mod and this is an integral part of the constraints that we must accept to ensure it operates optimally. You don't empty a Bugatti alone ...

It remains for us to discuss the 510 connection itself. It sits on a steel plate 25mm in diameter. This plate is adjusted by simple screwing / unscrewing except that the screw thread is reversed so as not to remove it each time you remove your atomizer. Adjustment is important because it will help you get the airholes out of your atomizer properly. Finally, the positive pin of the 510 is composed of copper and beryllium, the latter providing the former with increased hardness as well as total resistance to oxidation. I won't tell you about the quality of the threads. It's simple, as soon as I put my ato on it, it screws up by itself without me touching it! 😉

Functional features

Type of chipset used: Alternative
Connection type: 510
Adjustable positive stud? Yes, through a floating pine tree.
Lock system ? Electronic
Quality of the locking system: Good, the function does what it is for
Features offered by the mod: None / Mechanic mod, Switch to mechanical mode, Battery charge display, Resistance value display, Protection against short circuits from the atomizer, Protection against reverse polarity of the accumulators, Display of the current vape voltage, Display of the power of the current vape, Temperature control of the atomizer coils, Diagnostic messages by alphanumeric codes, Resettable calculation of the number of puffs, Calculation of the vape time .
Battery compatibility: 18650
Does the mod support stacking? No
Number of batteries supported: 1
Does the mod retain its configuration without batteries? Yes
Does the mod offer a recharge feature? No recharge function offered by the mod
Is the recharge function passthrough? No charging function offered by the mod
Does the mode offer a Power Bank function? No power bank function offered by the mod
Does the mode offer other functions? No other function offered by the mod
Presence of air flow regulation? No
Maximum diameter in mm of compatibility with an atomizer: 25
Accuracy of the output power at full charge of the battery: Excellent, there is no difference between the requested power and the real power
Accuracy of the output voltage at full charge of the battery: Excellent, there is no difference between the requested voltage and the actual voltage

Vapelier's note regarding functional characteristics: 4.5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on functional features

It would take a directory to list all of the features offered by the Pro Side and I will not have enough ink in my computer. Nevertheless, I will give you a little digest of what you need to know, but it's good because it's you.

The mod works in five different modes that you can choose and adjust:

The variable power mode allows you to browse all the available power between 10 and 80 W in increments of 1 W. This is the usual mode, nothing new in principle.
The temperature control mode allows you to vape between 120 and 280 ° C. You can use NiFe 30 (recommended by the brand) but also stainless steel, titanium (not recommended by me), Nickel, Tungsten but also all types of existing wire provided you know their temperature coefficient that you can directly implement in the mod. It's only fair if you won't be able to use your shoe laces! The possibilities are therefore endless in terms of choice.
Power Boost mode is ideal for jostling a diesel assembly a bit. You can choose the boost time but also the intensity. In fact, you can for example choose to send 5 w more than the initial setting for one second, for example, in order to energize and preheat your wire.
The Heat Protection mode will guarantee you once set a vape devoid of dry-hits. It prevents the resistance from heating up too much by applying a power reduction coefficient that you can adjust. So even in intensive use and at high power, you can be sure that the flavors of your atomizer will remain constant.
The By-Pass mode emulates the operation of a mechanical mod and is therefore aligned with the residual voltage of the battery to supply your coil. The signal becomes quite flat and you will have to make an effort to calculate the value of the resistor you create based on the voltage capacity of the battery and its CDM. All this while being carefully secured by the various protections of the mod which remain vigilant even in this mode in order to save you worries.

The protections, let's talk about them precisely because they guarantee a safe operation as well as the various utilities which populate the Pipeline / Dicodes universe for a vape in all serenity:

A probe measures the internal resistance of the battery used as well as its capacity to manage your assembly.
The mod automatically adjusts performance if the battery weakens or deteriorates.
The voltage at which the mod will refuse to work can be adjusted between 2.5 and 3 V.
You can influence the brightness of the screen or adjust the switch-on time and even deactivate it.
You can set the time before the mod goes to sleep.
You can determine the passage time between the different menus.
The positive pole has four contact points in order to maximize the quality of the current conveyed.
You are protected against battery polarity reversal.
But also against overheating of the system.

I remind you that all of these parameters are adjustable and that is why you will not be able to save reading the user manual which explains each manipulation much better than I could do.

You can also choose your switch button between the top or the bottom depending on your preferred position. And now you can vape in peace, I will stop here even if there are still functions to be detailed but they are so numerous that I will lose you on the way! 😴 Adjustable limitation of the maximum AND minimum power to avoid any problem, manual calibration of the temperature of the cooled coil so that the temperature control is perfectly adjustable, number of puffs, vape time from the start, screen orientation ... I you were telling you that a directory was needed!

Evaluation of the packaging

Presence of a box accompanying the product: Yes
Would you say that the packaging is up to the price of the product? Yes
Presence of a user manual? Yes
Is the manual understandable for a non-English speaker? Yes
Does the manual explain ALL features? Yes

Vapelier's note on packaging: 5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

High end requires, it was necessary to mark the occasion with a rewarding packaging and Pipeline willingly bowed to the exercise. Indeed, your precious will arrive well wedged by a thermoformed foam in a beautiful aluminum box that you can easily reuse later to store your vaping accessories.

No cable since no proprietary possibility of recharging, that makes sense. No instructions either but with an excellent explanation. Indeed, you will find inside the packaging the explanations to download the pdf version in French of the user manual and when I did the manipulation, I understood that it was impossible to put so much information on a piece of paper inside the box! The manual is dense but you will still have to read it if you want to get the most out of your Pro Side and cook your vape with small onions.

As it is my day of kindness, I put the link to the user manual: HERE

Appreciations in use

Transport facilities with the test atomizer: Ok for an inside jacket pocket (no deformations)
Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Super simple, even blind in the dark!
Easy to change batteries: Super simple, even blind in the dark!
Did the mod heat up? No
Has there been any erratic behavior after a day of use? No
Description of the situations in which the product has experienced erratic behavior: None

Vapelier's rating in terms of ease of use: 5/5

Reviewer's comments on the use of the product

Once the Pro Side has been optimized for your personal use, it is a straight path open to you. Indeed, whatever the chosen operating mode, we find the same quality of the signal which makes the vape very different from other existing systems.

Rigged with a beautiful atomizer, the mod is both surgical in terms of the precision of the flavors but homogeneous and a great taste density. The contrast to the competition is stark and the aromas emerge without having to tap into the mod's comfortable potency.

Even if the mod is quite complex to adjust initially, it becomes very ergonomic after a short period of learning. Daily use is therefore greatly facilitated and the object simplifies your life because it retains all of your personal parameters and it only takes a few manipulations to modify them when they are well understood.

The principle of the deported ato is interesting since the space taken up by the complete set-up becomes negligible and the weight is contained, even with the quality and density of the materials used.

As one could imagine, no suspicious behavior comes to thwart the quality of vape. The Pro Side does not heat up, it does not run erratically. He remains stable, reliable and considerate. After a whole month of testing, I never managed to fault it at any time.

The competition manages to make it undoubtedly simpler in terms of ergonomics of adjustment (I am talking about Evolv or Yihi here) but no one achieves such taste perfection, this impression of saturation of the flavors that gives the mod whatever the atomizer. posed on it. In this, as in many areas, the Pipeline / Dicodes duo remains unique and very efficient.

Recommendations for use

Type of batteries used during the tests: 18650
Number of batteries used during the tests: 1
With what type of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? With conventional fiber, In sub-ohm assembly, Reconstructable type Genesis ...
With which model of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? With a very good MTL or DL atomizer restricted to take advantage of the quality of the flavors, between 0.30 and 1 Ω
Description of the test configuration used: Pro Side + Dvarw DL FL, various RTA monocoil
Description of the ideal configuration with this product: The one that suits you best!

Was the product liked by the reviewer: Yes

Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 4.9 / 5

The mood ticket of the reviewer

After all this, the balance sheet is easy to draw. The Pipeline Pro Side is still out of time or, more accurately, it is ahead of many aspects.

Elegance and technology play a very successful pas de deux for us, especially in this precise format of Side By Side. Grip of imperial comfort, excellence of the chipset, reliability in all areas, nothing disturbs the tranquility necessary for daily vaping because, unlike some mods even more exclusive by their price, it does not show off only by its successful aesthetics but also and above all by the high quality of its vape. What remains, in short, the ultimate justice of the peace.

I remember reading an interview with the late Paul Bocuse a few years ago, to whom a journalist said that the prices they charged were intended for his restaurant for a wealthy clientele. The multi-starred chef replied that on the contrary, the majority of his customers were average French people who came to spend a unique moment in his establishment, for a personal celebration, a gastronomic awakening or the success of the youngest at the Bac.

Here, it's the same, this mod is intended for enthusiasts, aesthetes of taste, without distinction of class. The price is nothing, the price / quality ratio is everything. And this is worth a Top Mod to our star of the day!

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